E7* = G string 1st fret + A string 2nd fret (2 finger E7 chord)
E7** = E chord + B string 3rd fret (4 finger E7 chord)
E chord
 
Repeatedly strum E7*/E/E7**/E7* Play around with different combinations for the best
effect, deemphasizing the high E string and emphasizing the low E string
[Intro]
E7* E E7** E7*  18x
 
C D
 
E7*\E 4x
 
C D
 
E7*\E 4x
[Verse]
      E7*      E        E7**             E 
If it keeps on raining, levee's goin' to break
      E7*      E        E7**             E 
If it keeps on raining, levee's goin' to break,
         E7*   E           E7**             E 
When the levee breaks I'll have no place to stay.
E7* E E7** E7*  2x
E7*      E                  E7**     E 
Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan,
E7*      E                  E7**     E 
Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan,
E7*         E               E7**                   E 
Got what it takes to make a mountain man leave his home,
E7* E     E7* E     E7* E 
Oh, well, oh, well, oh, well.
[Instrumental]
C D
 
E7*\E 4x
 
C D
 
E7*\E 4x
 
E7* E  E7* B  E7* A D E
[Bridge]
E7*                    E 
Don't it make you feel bad
            B 
When you're trying to find your way home,
    A                D      E 
You don't know which way to go?
          E7*        E 
If you're goin' down South
     B 
They got no work to do,
       A           D       E 
If you don't know about Chicago.
[Instrumental]
E7* E  E7* B  E7* A D E 2x
 
E7* E E7** E7*  14x
 
C D
 
E7*\E 4x
 
C D
 
E7*\E 4x

[Verse]
E7*          E         E7**                    E 
Cryin' won't help you, praying won't do you no good,
     E7*          E         E7**                    E 
Now, cryin' won't help you, praying won't do you no good,
         E7*   E       E7**             E 
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move.
E7* E E7** E7* 2x
E7*      E     E7**                 E 
All last night sat on the levee and moaned,
E7*      E     E7**                 E 
All last night sat on the levee and moaned,
          E7*     E    E7**         E 
Thinking about me baby and my happy home.
[Instrumental]
C D
 
E7*\E 4x
 
C D
 
E7*\E 4x
 
E7* E  E7* B  E7* A D E 2x
E7* E  E7* B  E7* A  D E 2x 
Ah  ha ah  ha ah  ha ha ha
[Instrumental]
E7* E  E7* B  E7* A D E
 
E7* E E7** E7* 2x
[Outro]
  
Going, going to Chicago... Going to Chicago... sorry but I can't take you...
E7*   E       E7**  E7*  E 
Going down... going down now... going down....